June 16, 2026 — by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
BANGOR, ME – Just like in the filly division of the Maine Sire Stakes, there is an undefeated colt named Real Horrorshow who makes his seasonal bow in one of two $15,000-plus divisions for 3-year-old colt pacers on Wednesday (June 17) at Bangor Raceway.
Real Horrorshow, last year’s undisputed Maine 2-year-old pacing colt champion steps into his first seasonal stakes competition off a blistering 1:54.4 qualifier at Plainridge for trainer Kevin Switzer Sr. The son of Dude’s The Man won all nine of his races at two, including the lucrative $85,000 final.
Regular driver Kevin Switzer Jr. gets the call for the 3-5 heavy favorite from pylon position, which is just where the precocious gelding likes it—on the front end.
His $99,089 in 2025 earnings for owners KDK Standardbreds, Kathleen Mofield and Anthony Sivik Jr. are evidence of the handsome sum available in the Pine Tree State-bred program, as well as the talent of this colt. Bred in Maine by Luke and Patricia Varnum, this horse looked like the real thing when he won the freshmen final by open lengths.
Of course the powerful ‘Tardif Taskforce’ has three entrants in the same division as the ‘unblemished one,’ which is carded as race seven. The 9-5 second choice is Rebel’s Revenge (Aaron Hall) from post four, along with Dude’s The Jet (6-1, Walter Case Jr.) from post three.
In the earlier $15,609 division for sophomore pacing colts and geldings the 8-5 favorite is Daytoremember with Heath Campbell from post five. Owned and trained by Valerie Grondin the son of Dude’s The Man was nine times 1-2-3 in 11 seasonal outings.
From the pegs is second choice Itsjustmoney (7-2, Switzer Jr.) who is one of three in that division that hail from the Marc Tardif stable.
First post at Bangor on Wednesday (June 17) is 3:00 pm.
This ‘glamour boys’ leg is the first $15,000-plus rounds of Maine Sire Stakes action for this division, which starts of the 18-week season of New England’s premier harness racing showcase.
Looking ahead, First Tracks Cumberland hosts the 3-year-old trotters on Sunday (June 21), with the 3-yar-old pacing fillies back at Bangor on Wednesday (June 24).
For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow them on Facebook @MaineBreedersAssociation, or go to their website: MaineSireStakes.com
